AC&Y Railroad collection comes to UA

08/13/2014

The Akron, Canton & Youngstown (AC&Y) Railroad Historical Society donated its collection of photographs, maps and other historic records to The University of Akron Archival Services, a division of University Libraries.

The collection consists of about 60 cubic feet of materials that document the history of the small, yet important local railroad. The assemblage, which dates from 1915-1998, includes land records, drawings, waybills, timetables, station records, correspondence, a few small artifacts and other historic treasures.

The AC&Y Railroad was a 171-mile single-track railroad running east-to-west from Mogadore to Delphos, Ohio. Organized in 1907, the railroad grew during the rubber boom of the 1910s and by the 1920s was recognized as the most profitable Class I railroad in the nation. It merged with other railroads throughout its history and existed as an independent operation until 1981.

The donated materials are available for use by students, historians, hobbyists, scholars and anyone with an interest in the operation of local railroads and the history of transportation.

About the AC&Y Historical Society

The AC&Y Historical Society is a group of rail historians, modelers and railfans who share a common interest in the AC&Y and its predecessors. Since its inception in 1993, the group has worked to preserve the history of the AC&Y for future generations and has amassed a substantial collection of original records on the history of the railroad. The organization is somewhat unique in that it is now one of the few railroad historical societies that is purely Internet-based. To learn more, visit the AC&Y Historical Society online.

About The University of Akron’s Archival Services

UA’s Archival Services, which is part of University Libraries, collects, preserves and provides access to historic resources that primarily document the history of The University of Akron and the region. The department, which is located in Room LL10 of the Polsky Building in downtown Akron, is open to students, faculty, staff and the general public, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are recommended, but not required. To learn more, visit Archival Services.